NY Jets: A complete analysis of the current team depth chart

NY Jets safety depth chart

• Starters: Lamarcus Joyner (FS), Marcus Maye (SS)

• Backups: Ashtyn Davis, Bennett Jackson, J.T. Hassell, Jordyn Peters

The Jets are in the midst of long-term contract talks with Marcus Maye. The deadline to extend their franchise player is fast approaching. When Maye does return into the fold, it appears that he will be playing the strong safety position in Gang Green's new defense.

It's a position and role that Maye played early last season with some success, but, surprisingly, the Jets' new defensive staff is looking to slide Maye back into that role, perhaps because he is their best option to play in the box.

A big reason that the Jets' are moving Maye is because of the addition of Lamarcus Joyner. The Jets are banking on the seasoned veteran being a jack of all trades type in the back end of their Cover 3 defense.

A lot will be expected of Ashtyn Davis heading into his second year as a pro. Davis might be called upon to play multiple roles in sub-packages as the team's third safety.

The Jets love the special teams' value of backup players like Bennett Jackson, J.T. Hassell, and undrafted rookie free agent Jordyn Peters, but it would not be surprising to see the team acquire a veteran strong safety type as insurance later this summer. 

Final overview of the NY Jets roster

The Jets have been down this road many times before, where they have undergone a significant roster and coaching makeover in one offseason.

But in the past, most of the significant changes occurred on the offensive side of the ball. Over the years, the defense has remained largely the same in terms of a 3-4 structure. 

As a result of the Jets moving to a 4-3 defense for the first time since the 2005 season, the turnover in starting positions up for grabs from one year to the next has increased dramatically.

The entire organization is targeting different types of players on both offense and defense than they have in the past to fit the new schemes.  

The new-look Jets of 2021 might be about "All Gas and No Brake," but when the keys are finally put into the ignition, it's going to have a lot of new drivers and passengers along for the ride.